Let me delve into change or lack of change for a bit.  Let me tell you about something that has not changed in my business:  Money!  30 years ago, the band I had earned about 300.00 per gig.  The norm today is still between 300 and 400 a gig, for a blues band.  What’s up with that?  Hell, a bad rock and roll band makes three times the money a very good blues band can make. 

Now people are going to say, “Hey!  No one is forcing you to play music (blues) for a living.  No one is forcing you to live without adequate health coverage”  And, they are right, in a sense.  Art sucks!

I am a musician.  I am an artist (debatable in some circles!), but nonetheless a fact!  I choose to give people the experience of hearing and feeling the “blues.”  It’s a gift I have, and (here comes the religious part), God gave it to me, and I will give it back.  I understand things better, when I look at it from a “blues” perspective!  That’s my life.  That’s my art.  That’s my cross to bear, and that’s my richness! 

I know a lot of really arrogant musicians, who get miffed if someone doesn’t compliment their “greatness”.  I don’t expect people to prostrate in my presence.  As a matter of fact, I still get embarrassed when folks compliment me on my talent.  I am not the most humble person in the world, but I still get a bad case of the “Aw shucks!”, when folks tell me how good they think I am.  I still insist, I would not hire me for a guitar player!!!  But, I am coming to realize, I am considered a good guitar player, by many of my peers.  Most of whom I respect greatly!!!  That feels good!

There is one thing I know.  When I play, I take people on a journey.  I give them a ticket for discovery!  Sometimes self discovery.  Most folks hear their own story in the songs I write and the songs I play.  That’s why I do it.  Sadly, the money to me is secondary to the pleasure playing the blues brings me.  Call me selfish.  My own children have suffered through rough times, because of my love of the music.  But, you know what, they love what I do.  My young son and daughter (5 and 10 years old respectively) think I’m famous!  They get the biggest kick out of being around the stage when I’m playing.  What they don’t understand about the blues, they understand about their father’s love of it.  They understand what it feels like to be on stage, because they have both been up there with me at times, and neither of them shy away from the opportunity to do so!!  Damn!  I think I’ve ruined them!! (Ha!)

So what’s the point of this post?

Good blues players love the music!  Not that R&R players don’t love what they do.  But, as BB King said, “Blues had a baby, and they called it rock and roll.” 

So, the next time you want to go out and enjoy some musical entertainment, find a blues band.  Not a rock and roll band that plays a little blues, but a “blues” band.  Here’s a few active ones:  Cadillac Pete and the Heat!  Rev. Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys!  Howard Leudtke! Westside Andy and Mel Ford!  Billy Flynn!  James Solberg!  Alex Wilson!  Paul Filipowicz!  Oh, and Michael “Big Dog” Murphy and the MOB (shameless plug!)  All of these bands, play their butt’s off, and they all play the “blues!”  These are NOT rock and roll guys.  These are straight up, aggressive blues bands, that understand and respect and love the blues.

Listen to them.  Follow them.  Let them take you on that journey of discovery.  Discover the blues, and you will buy another and another ticket for the next blues train you can find.

 ”All aboard!!”

dog

Wednesday nights are the nights my blues duo, me and Smokey, Dog and Cat Daddy, Big Dog and Rico … perform at an Appleton, WI venue.  Last Wednesday started off as a nothing unusual night.  There was an agent in attendance, that had contacted me about representation, and maybe fifty other folks in the club, some I knew, some I didn’t.

Me and Smokey were having a ball, in this smokeless club, as is all of Appelton’s businesses now.  No big deal to me, but Smokey is called “Smokey” for a reason!  Any how, it was approaching 1130 pm, and the club owner approached me, with a gentleman I didn’t know, and asked if we would be willing to play awhile longer for a party of folks scheduled to arrive around 1230am.  Being the natural gentleman I am, I politely asked “How much?”  Without blinking an eye, a generous offer was made, and Smokey and I played til almost 4am for the cast and crew of Johnny Depp’s new movie, being filmed in Wisconsin!!  Yes, including Johnny Depp!!!!  I had the pleasure of meeting Johnny and Steven Dorff (Blade) and several others among the actors and crew.

As they were departing, I was shaking their hands and receiving their compliments and thanks for playing for them.  When Johnny shook my hand, I was already to blurt out, “Mr. Depp, if you ever need a blues band for one of your pictures, let me know!”  As he thanked me, and commented how good we were, all I said, “Thank you.  Thanks for hanging out with us!” 

I figured, he was there to relax, and have a good time without being hounded by autograph hounds (I also didn’t ask him for that - damn!), and folks asking to have their picture made with him.  So, I did none of that, although I really wanted to.  Who knows, maybe he had such a good time, such a relaxing morning (because it was!), he might remember me, perhaps in conversation about filming the movie, although I doubt it. 

This young cat has to see so many faces, and hear so many voices and bands, and photos and stuff, I didn’t want to be in the “bothersome” category, even though, as the old adage goes, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease!”

It was very cool meeting Johnny Depp, and everyone else.  Guess I am lucky, in that respect, of being in a business that every so often, puts me in the right place, at the right time … or not!

 Big Dog

He had just signed with Delta Groove Records.  On his latest CD, one of the cuts is called ”Going Home.” It is about dying … “Soon I will be done with the trouble of this world …. I’m going home to live with God ….”

Weird.

April 8th, a young musician in California, known as Mike “Blue Stew” Miller passed away.  56 years old.  He was a member of a blues list to which I have belonged for many years, and he was a regular contributor, no matter what the topic.  Funny, thought provoking and talented is the best way to describe Mike.  He had Tourette’s and only those close to him knew.  He never talked about it.  He brought so much joy to those that knew him, and to him that was enough.

 I am 58.  A recent 58.  I wonder what will be said about me, after I am gone.  I can only imagine.

more later…

dog

Karen, my lady love, supplied 5 dozen cupcakes, so the folks in the club could have some cake too!  Gary, club owner, even bought a round of “something” for the house, and toasted my birthday.  With Gary and Tobi behind the bar, and all my friends and relatives just jookin away, it was a great night.  And, I have have to say a special thanks to Sandeeb for the gift card to that very cool area restaurant - me and Karen will certainly put that to good use!!!

You know, there is one thing while I was growing up, that I never had enough of - birthday parties.  And, it may seem awfully childish of me to look forward to them, but, I gotta tell you, I do.  I enjoy them.  I got the biggest kick Saturday night, when my 24 year old son, BJ, called and said he and some of his friends were coming by to have a couple of beverages and watch us play. 

BJ is a great son, I love him so much.  He’s always making plans to find his niche: he wants to own a pizza restaurant.  Actually, he wants to buy the joint he’s working at right now, and has worked at for a great many years.  I wish I could help him, but, I am a musician, which in this country, doesn’t count for much, especially, a blues musician.  But, like BJ making pizza, I love it, and I don’t want to do anything else. 

You know, this birthday was very cool.  The music was just outstanding.  And, to have a cat like Larry “3rd Degree” Byrne tell me, that he really enjoys playing with me - cool.  He said, “I play a lot of this music quite often, but I have to tell you, your arrangements are very original and very fun!”  He even asked for my calendar, so he can see what his availability is to do it some more!  Hog heaven - I think so!!!!

Jelly Roll was in unbelievable form!  He was rolling some riffs on that Mississippi Saxphone of his, that would have made Little Walter say, “Damn!  I shoulda done that!”  I don’t know much about how to play the harmonica, but I know what I like to hear.  Little Walter, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Billy Branch, Sonny Boy Williamson I & II, Hammie Nixon, Big Walter Horton, Charlie Musslewhite, and Jelly Roll Roy!!

My new Epiphone amplifier got it’s second outing too!  That Blues Custom amp is outstanding!  At 15 watts, it’s a true “class A” amp, and is indeed a joy to play!  It growls, barks, bites, and it also cries and hums!  It does anything I want it to do, just about!  If it could make biscuits and gravy, I’d be set for life!!  So now, I’m Epiphone all around, 335 Dot, Sheraton II, and a Masterbilt acoustic.  Life’s “epi” good right now!

down the road…….

I just had an experience with one of my beloved club owners, which reminded me how much I hate the business side of entertaining.  I stopped by the venue to drop off posters for an upcoming date, and as I approached the entrance to the club, there on the door was another poster naming some dude as performing the same night I was supposed to bring the MOB in.  I went inside and asked the bar-staff about it, and they were clueless.  I left the posters, and asked that they not be thrown away, until I had a chance to clear this mess up. 

I called the owner, thinking that it would be easier to move one guy, as opposed to me cancelling the whole band.  Silly me.  His bottom line, doesn’t match my bottom line.  He stated the gig with the solo guy had been booked for a month.  I reminded him, our date had been booked since just before Christmas 2007!!!  He said give him a few minutes and he would see what he could do.  To my way of thinking, the solution is simple: Tell Mr. Solo, you double booked the room and offer him another date!  But, his bottom line, doesn’t match my bottom line. 

But, all in all, he did work out a reasonable solution, except that I had to notify about 40 people that we were not going to be at the venue.  Instead, we were fortunate enough to have him squeeze us into another of his clubs, but on the Friday, instead of the Saturday.  Oh well, at least we didn’t lose a whole lot of money.  It sort of worked out.   Later, I heard the solo guy sucked lemons.  Goody!

 ”Hello!”  I am Michael “Big Dog” Murphy, a blues musician (singer and guitarist), and am new to Citizen Wausau, but not to music, or politics, or religion, or divorces and marriages, or McDonald’s or Burger King, or large all-you-can-eat buffets, nor child support and alimony.  When you’re as old as I am, you’re not new to a whole lot of anything! 

I have a band, it’s called “Michael Murphy and the MOB”.  MOB is an acronym for Men Of Blues.  Not politically correct, I’m sure, but that’s the name just the same.  My bass player, Rick “Smokey” Smith, was formerly with the legendary blind blues man ”Bryan Lee”.  I am so lucky to have him as part of the rhythm section.  My drummer, a young, young kid named Andy “Lil Boo” Booher.  He’s just getting out of high-school!!  As a matter of fact, he is at this very moment, closing the zipper on his suitcase, to head down to Florida for spring break with his high-school buddies!  Remember those days!!!??!  Andy was taught by one of the most well known drummers in the Midwest - Spence Panosh (Dave Steffen, Rev’ Raven!)  And the boy plays 20 years ahead of his time.

Me?  I’m just the leader of the band.  My name’s on the banner.  I am not famous, but I still have the dream, and I always will.  Without the dream, I’m just a radio.  I will never be a radio, that’s for someone else to try and justify.  Me, I’m a real deal! I’m creative, not necessarily innovative - it is blues for Christ’s sake, but I am certainly bringing it from somewhere deep inside.  Sometimes so deep, I don’t even know where it comes from.  Truthfully, most of the time, I have no idea where it’s coming from, but I am so glad it is.  It’s kind of like that cat in Edgar Lee Masters’ ”Spoon River Anthology”, Fiddler Jones, when he said, “The earth keeps some kind of vibration going there in your heart, and that is you!  And if the people find you can fiddle, why, fiddle you must, for all your life.”  And there you have it! 

Likes and dislikes?  Like anyone else, I have some.  Bic pens, for instance.  Don’t like’m.  Chef Bonnie’s Past Fasu - LOVE IT!!!!

Favorite stuff?  I have some favorite stuff too.  And, some not so favorite stuff.   Alimony.  I can do without that.   Rap music.  Listen, I’ve been listening to rap music long before it was called rap - it was called Square Dancing!  Yeehaaa!

There’s a lot of stuff I could write about:  State of the Blues; “good ol’ boy” music networks; effectiveness (or not-) of blues societies;  American Idol (pulhleeze NO!); racism (I like NASCAR as well as anybody — Go fast, turn left!  Go Fast, turn left!); taverns with robots for beverage technicians; non smoking regulations; sex in government; sex out of government; etc.

But, I am going to let this short little intro do, for now.

dog